Before I get this whole shibaaz started, I want to take a moment to remember the now past Robin Williams. He was damn funny and has had an influence on me since my childhood, which is something I believe I share with numerous others from my generation. Regardless of the way or reasons for his passing, he will be missed.
Okay, now that respects have been paid, lets move to the topic at hand: Cyberpunk as a gaming genre.
To start we'll take a gander at the general "definition" of the Term: Cyberpunk is a sub-genre of science fiction in a near-future setting. Noted for its focus on "high tech and low life."
In fiction this genre, or sub-genre if you prefer, often uses tropes from detective novels and noir films. This, in my mind, seems to make Cyberpunk not only an extension of science fiction, but also an evolution of Detective/Crime fiction. The subject matter of most stories often involve illegal gain and use of controlled paraphernalia, be it drugs, cybernetics, or even people, as well as the struggle against or within massive Mega-Corporations. If you put all of these characteristics in a pot and stir, on average you get the following: A lone wolf type individual (often a Merc, hacker, ex-cop or even a disillusioned gang member) wading through waves of Neon monitor glow and seedy individuals while investigating either a misuse of advanced tech (drugs or actual tech) or searching for a missing person (usually a victim of misused tech), which then turns out to be the fault of a Mega-Corp.
While Cyberpunk literature and film can be as predictable as its ancestral Noir relatives, Cyberpunk gaming can take an entirely different approach or just fall in line.
People that play in the Cyberpunk sandbox do so for various reasons, and they each have a different take on the genre. Some play up the advanced technology angle, looking at ingenious ways of re-purposing technology that is just a day away from the modern world or by exploring the consequences abusing the very same tech. Other focus on the interaction between humans in a land of Neon glow and ubiquitous WiFi (in the 80's it would be invasive wires), how do you look a people when you can know all about them in a manner or seconds, what do you do when you can't.
Personally, I dig the idea of just surviving in the strange land of insanely tall building, advanced tech and dark skies. What do you / will you do to survive in the futuristic yet familiar urban jungle. As was aptly said by Mike Pondsmith of R. Talsorian, "The streets find a use for everything."
Now for some games!
This is the granddaddy of Cyberpunk role-playing games. It's in the name after all. The first edition was originally published in 1988 as Cyberpunk 2013, two years following, the second edition Cyberpunk 2020 was released. While both games have respective year tags as part of their names, both are generally referred to as simply "Cyberpunk." The second edition not only sported a seven year hop forward, but also involved a retcon in the games timeline to accommodate real world events that took place between the two editions.
As was the mentality of the time, both editions used 80's elements such as the Glam-rock scene (Bowie), Bosozoku styled biker gangs (Akira), and a general sense of "style over substance."
Mechanically, Cyberpunk had a focus on combat over the other aspects of the game (much like most games from the 80's). But I mean, come on, bad ass future guns and cybernetics were all the theoretical rage some 20+ years ago..... well, they kinda still are.
The primary setting (at least for 2020) is Night City, CA. located on the west coast between San Francisco and L.A. Night City is the prototypical Cyberpunk city, towering buildings so tall that the streets see no light from the son with neon signs illuminating these same streets. Oh yeah, and all the Mega-Corp denizens you could want in said ridiculously tall buildings.
Recently an new edition was announced along with a video game, both with no discernible release date. Hello Cyberpunk 2077.
Moving on.
Shadowrun:
Okay, so follow me on this one. Take the crunchy metallic chocolate bar that is cyberpunk, now dip it in the creamy peanut butter that is D&D. BOOM you've got Shadowrun, two great tastes that taste great together. That's right fantasy races and magic AND cyberpunk all in one special special place.The world of Shadowrun is somewhat similar to our own, borders have changed and so has some of the topography, but ultimately cities and countries are located where they are now abut now there are giant building and advanced tech glued onto everything. Despite the similarity in the "world" magic, elves & such, and dragons have reemerged onto the planet. So yeah, you can be an Orc Street Mage with cybernetic prosthesis, totally wicked.
Currently Shadowrun is in it's Fifth Edition
Personally, I love Shadowrun. It has a propensity for true insanity and as of the fourth edition, the most effective weapon in the game is a Van... That's right a van. Run some imaginary assholes over.
GURPS Cyberpunk:
Originally published in 1990, This one isn't so much a full game as it is just a tool kit rules set for doing cyberpunk in GURPS.
An interesting tidbit about this one, the original manuscript was seized by the secret service as part of Operation Sundevil, stating that the book was a "handbook for computer crime."
There are a few other cyberpunk games out there in the ether, but most all other that Shadowrun have gone by the wayside and are either hard to find or straight up unavailable, although R. Talsorian has popped back up, as I mentioned before, with Cyberpunk 2077. Too bad we have no idea when that till be released.
So there we are. It's not the most in-depth look into Cyberpunk as genre of gaming, but I was a loo into it. Cyberpunk is one of my favorite genres, but sadly my only experience has been Shadowrun. So I can't really tell you how amazing this game is or how much fun I had playing that one.
If nothing else, this entry will serve to expand your horizons and/or pique your interest about Cyberpunk.
If you dear reader(s) are interested here are short lists of books and movies to check out.
Film
Blade Runner (1982)
Escape from New York (1981)
Robocop 1 & 2 (1987, 1990)
Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Total Recall (Both, 1990 & 2012)
The Fifth Element (1997)
Dredd (2012)
Judge Dredd (1995)
The Island (2005)
The Matrix Trilogy
Ghost in the Shell (all)
Akira (1988)
Books & Graphic Novels
The Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson
Akira (GN) by Katsuhiro Otomo
Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shiro
Here we are again, at the end of another post.
Take it easy folks.
Stay Frosty
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